An Illinoisan attending the University of Illinois will spend nearly $8,000 more per year than a Missourian at Missouri State University-Springfield, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of 116 four-year public universities in 10 Midwestern states based on enrollment.

Greater C-U residents would pay $128,251,320 more in state income taxes if the state agrees to increase school funding by $7.2 billion, according to a Chambana Sun analysis of Illinois Department of Revenue data.

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, Vermilion County ranked No. 24 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Champaign County accounted for 111 of the 38,382 abortions performed statewide in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Illinois state government lowered its fees for forming and maintaining Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). Setting up an LLC now costs $150, down from $500. And maintaining one costs $75, down from $250 per year.

Despite dismal student performance on annual exams covering math and reading, Champaign-Urbana metro area high school graduation rates remain high, according to a Chambana Sun analysis of 2016 data from the Illinois State Board of Education.

With 12,554 international students from 113 countries attending the University of Illinois on federal student visas, the group makes up 26.7 percent of the total student body, according to a Chambana Sun​​​​ analysis of data obtained from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Chicago's taxi cab cartel donated $180,750 to 61 state legislators in 2014-15, including Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), encouraging them to help preserve their traditional monopoly by banning ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft in Illinois.

Prairieview-Ogden Community Consolidated School District 197 had the highest rate – 54 percent – of students locally who passed the annual state assessments this year, according to a Chambana Sun analysis of Illinois State Board of Education data.

Gov. Bruce Rauner recently announced he will sign controversial abortion funding expansion House Bill 40 into law, which critics say will increase the number of abortions from the reported 241 in Champaign County in 2015.

A new public school funding bill recently passed by the Illinois Legislature, SB1947, includes a scholarship program that would award donated funds to students in lower-income families — up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level — to provide them the opportunity to attend private schools.

Champaign County's 16 school districts will receive an extra $2.25 million this year if the Illinois House accepts Gov. Bruce Rauner's version of a school funding bill, according to an analysis by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Acting manager of AmeriCorps’ Illinois-based programs, the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Serve Illinois), recently reported $17.5 million in federal grants for AmeriCorps members.